Chapter 41

During these few months, Song Qingming spent most of his time managing Mount Lingyuan. Even the Caolu Mountain, which he used to go to every month, he only went to once in these three months.

Ninth Uncle Song Zhangxin looked at Song Qingming, who had become very familiar with managing mortals and mines over the past few years, and simply handed over all the affairs of resettling mortals to him during this period.

Song Qingming was so attentive to these matters during this period because he knew that he would be at Mount Lingyuan for three years soon, and he wanted to handle the affairs here as smoothly as possible before leaving, so that it would be convenient for the new garrison family cultivators to take over.

Unexpectedly, just as Song Qingming had prepared almost everything, Ninth Uncle Song Zhangxin summoned him into the room and told him an unexpected piece of news.

After these years of development, the population of Mujiao Town had been increasing every year. The family had now received several thousand mortals from the Liu family and could only build several new villages next to Mujiao Town. Now that all the family mortals were managed by Fifth Aunt Song Changling alone, she was truly somewhat overwhelmed. After discussing with the Fourth Elder and the clan leader, it was decided to mobilize Song Zhangxin to go over and help her first.

In this way, only Song Qingming was left on Mount Lingyuan. Song Zhangxin also knew that Song Qingming's garrison period was just about to expire, so he found him to discuss it.

"Qingming, I just received news from the Fourth Elder, asking me to return to Mount Funiu to help Changling manage the mortals under the family's jurisdiction. Now the family is short of manpower, and you are already familiar with the situation on Mount Lingyuan. The Fourth Elder and I discussed it, so why don't you stay here temporarily to cultivate? When I'm busy over there, I'll come back to replace you. What do you think?"

Between Song Zhangxin's words, he was somewhat embarrassed. Although the words he said today were all arrangements of the family, he was still a little afraid that Song Qingming would directly refuse. After all, as a cultivator choosing a place to cultivate, the spiritual vein of Mount Funiu was definitely better. Staying on Mount Lingyuan all the time would more or less delay some cultivation progress.

Song Qingming was somewhat surprised to hear this news, but he didn't think that much. Although cultivating on the spiritual vein of Mount Funiu was better, he didn't lack this bit of cultivation speed now. On the contrary, Mount Lingyuan was more hidden, which was conducive to him hiding the spiritual items on his person that couldn't be seen.

The remnant map on his person, the things in Liu Tianlong's storage bag, and the Yuxuan Sutra he had obtained for no reason—now he didn't dare to let anyone else know about any of them.

Thinking that the Liu family had brought about the disaster of extermination just because of a Water Spirit Fruit, the value of the remnant map on him was far more than that. If it could be used well, it might even give him a glimmer of hope for Foundation Establishment in the future. Once those high-tier cultivators knew about it, the Song family would definitely follow in the footsteps of the Liu family, and perhaps the outcome would be even worse.

As for the Yuxuan Sutra, ever since he cultivated this cultivation technique, Song Qingming felt more and more that the mystery of this cultivation technique was far from as simple as he had thought at the beginning. Ever since he cultivated the Yuxuan Sutra, Song Qingming slowly felt that the magic power on his body was much thicker than before. This cultivation technique seemed to have the mysterious effect of forging the spiritual energy in his body.

A cultivation technique that could have this effect was naturally not comparable to the Kunyuan Sutra that Song Qingming originally cultivated. The Kunyuan Sutra was just an ordinary Qi Refining Five Elements cultivation technique. When facing cultivators of the same tier, it was often easy to fall into a disadvantage and could only rely on external objects like magic tools and spirit talismans to make up for his strength.

After cultivating the Yuxuan Sutra for over three months, Song Qingming had already clearly felt that the spiritual power he released now had improved quite a bit compared to before. Cultivating the Yuxuan Sutra for a long time, his magic power would definitely be much thicker than that of cultivators who cultivated ordinary cultivation techniques. If he were fated to be able to unlock the cultivation techniques for Foundation Establishment and beyond, perhaps there would be even greater divine abilities.

This point also made him feel more and more the extraordinary nature of this cultivation technique. Fortunately, he hadn't had time to copy this cultivation technique to the family, and no one else in the family knew that he had cultivated this cultivation technique, otherwise it would be difficult for him to hide it even if he wanted to.

Now he was cultivating the Yuxuan Sutra on one hand, and the Kunyuan Sutra cultivation technique hadn't been left behind either. In front of others, ordinary Qi Refining cultivators definitely couldn't see the strangeness of his cultivation technique. Even his Ninth Uncle Song Zhangxin, a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, hadn't felt that he had cultivated other cultivation techniques recently.

Thinking of this, Song Qingming hesitated slightly and then agreed. Even without this reason, facing Song Zhangxin, who had taken good care of him over the past few years, Song Qingming really couldn't refuse.

Seeing that Song Qingming didn't refuse, Song Zhangxin also felt relieved and nodded with satisfaction. Among the young cultivators of the "Qing" generation in the family, apart from Song Qingze, a genius with excellent spiritual roots, the cultivation of others was not high. Song Qingming being able to cultivate to the fifth layer of Qi Refining at twenty-three, although with some opportunities, could already be considered a diligent person.

"Don't worry, I will talk to the Fourth Elder when I go back this time and supplement you with some more spirit stones, so as not to delay your cultivation as much as possible. When I'm not here, you must take good care of Mount Lingyuan, and the Black Iron Mine must not be neglected at all."

This bitter cultivator, Ninth Uncle, liked diligent younger generation members in the family and had always been very concerned about Song Qingming's path of cultivation.

"Ninth Uncle, only I am left on Mount Lingyuan for the time being. Qingming's cultivation is still low, and I'm afraid I'm somewhat incapable." Song Qingming nodded, hesitated slightly, and then slowly spoke of the worries in his heart.

Song Zhangxin smiled slightly, took out a red spirit talisman from his storage bag, handed it to Song Qingming, and said solemnly:

"This is a top-tier message talisman. Keep it well. If you encounter harassment from high-tier monster beasts, release this talisman. The family will receive the news within an hour and send people to support you. This spirit talisman is not easy to come by in the family. Do not use it easily unless it is absolutely necessary. In a few days, the Fourth Elder should arrange for someone else to come and help you. In this way, there should be no problem on your side, right?"

"Since Ninth Uncle has already arranged it properly, Nephew will naturally not fail the mission." Song Qingming nodded and agreed, and the look of worry on his face also faded.

He had already been proficient in operating the protective formation of Mount Lingyuan for these past few years. As long as he didn't encounter those high-tier monster beasts that were difficult to deal with, he had absolute confidence that there would be no problems.

Even if high-tier monster beasts attacked, using the message spirit talisman Ninth Uncle had just given him, as long as he could hold on for an hour, he could wait for the family's reinforcements, which was not too difficult for him now.

That day, after Song Zhangxin gave him instructions, he went back to pack his luggage and left Mount Lingyuan by the sunset. He was a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, so his speed was naturally much faster than Song Qingming's, and he could easily return to Mount Funiu before dark.

After Song Qingming waited alone for a few days, he finally welcomed the family cultivator who came to help him garrison: his Sixth Brother, Song Qinghe.

Song Qinghe was two years older than Song Qingming. His talent was even worse than Song Qingming's, and he was a five-spiritual-root cultivator. Although he was relatively diligent in cultivation, his cultivation was only at the fourth layer of Qi Refining.

Song Qinghe had a relatively dull personality. Apart from closed-door cultivation, he helped out in the family's spiritual fields on weekdays. He was a spiritual plant master. He was probably more interested in flowers and plants than in people on weekdays. Although Song Qingming didn't talk much with this Sixth Brother in the past, he also knew that he had a relatively honest personality.

Seeing that Song Qingming's cultivation had now surpassed his own, Song Qinghe also felt somewhat envious of this Seventh Brother's opportunities. Although his spiritual root talent was poor and he didn't have any great ambitions, he hadn't given up on his path of cultivation yet. Seeing someone around him obtain an opportunity, he was naturally very longing for when he could be favored by heaven.

It was just that for things like opportunities, if one only hid at home and cultivated bitterly, it would naturally be very difficult to obtain. Song Qingming being able to be favored by heaven was also only possible after experiencing a life-and-death situation.

After Song Qinghe arrived at Mount Lingyuan, Song Qingming arranged for him to go to the mine to be responsible for patrolling and supervising the mining of the mine vein. He himself moved to the side of Crescent Moon Lake and built a small house again, responsible for guarding the Mount Lingyuan formation and managing the mortal affairs here, and by the way, guiding the cultivation techniques of those martial arts masters.

(End of chapter)